Floor machine with retractable wheels and adjustable handle assembly



2,949,619 E. WHEELS AND ADJUSTABLE HANDLE ASSEMBLY Aug. 23, 1960 w. E.HOLT FLOOR MACHINE WITH RETRACTABL Filed April 11, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet lv F I G l v INVENTOR.

WILLIAM E. HOLT ATTORNEY Aug. 23, 1960 w. E. HOLT FLOOR MACHINE WITHRETRACTABL E WHEELS AND ADJUSTABLE HANDLE ASSEMBLY 2 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed April 11, 1957 4 6 i4. 2 3 l.. H 0 4 W" 4. 2 M0 2 All! v aINVENTOR.

7 WILLIAM anon ATTORNEY FIG.3 a5

FLOOR MAC WITH RETRACTABLE WI'EELS AND ADJUSTABLE DLE ASSEMBLY WilliamE. Holt, 651-d57 20th St, 'Gakland, Calif. Filed Apr. 11, 1957, Ser. No.652,196

7 Claims. (Cl. 1'549) The present invention relates to the constructionof floor maintenance machines having retractable supporting wheelsoperable by an adjustable handle assembly, and more particularly, tofloor maintenance machines of the character described in which thehandle assembly is movable between a lower angular normal operatingposition in which the wheels are raised and an upper upright transportor storage position in which the wheels are in a lowered position.

The main object of the present invention is the provision of a floormaintenance machine of the character described having simple compact lowcost provisions for releasably locking the supporting wheels and handleassembly in their normal operating and transport or storage positions.Another object is the provision of a pair of auxiliary wheels arrangedto facilitate transportation of the machine up and down stairs. Afurther object is an improved relative arrangement of the auxiliarywheels and releasable locking means in which the wheels are positionedin a location permitting easy access to the locking means and thelocking means are located and proportioned so as to avoid interferencewith the operation of the auxiliary wheels.

The various features of novelty which characterize my invention arepointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming apart of this specification. For a better understanding of the invention,its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its use,reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptivematter in which I have illustrated and described a specific embodimentof my invention.

Of the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a floor maintenance machine embodying thepresent invention with the supporting wheels and handle assembly in thetransportation or storage position;

Fig. 2 is a rear view of the lower portion of the machine shown in Fig.1;

Fig. 2-A is a rear View of the upper portion of the machine shown inFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom view of the supporting and auxiliarywheels and locking provisions;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showingthe supporting wheels and handle assembly in the normal operatingposition; and

Fig. 5 is a view of the parts shown in Fig. 4 in the transport orstorage position.

The floor maintenance machine illustrated includes a metal housinghaving a substantially cylindrical top section 11 enclosing an electricdrive motor (not shown) and an enlarged circular downwardly curving basesection 12. The base section surrounds the upper portion of a removablerotary surfacing element, such as a rotary brush 12a, arranged to rotateabout a vertical axis with the lower ends of the brush bristles incontact with the floor.

The rear portion of the circular housing base section 12 has arearwardly and downwardly curving center ex- 2,949,619 Patented Aug. 23,1960 tension 13, the lower portion 14- of which is reduced in width andterminates in a pair of transversely spaced aligned hubs 15, throughwhich passes an axle 16. The housing also has a pair of wheel-enclosingauxiliary housings 17 projecting rearwardly thereof and symmetricallyarranged relative to and transversely spaced from the center extension13. The inner wall 17' of each auxiliary housing 17 is cut away to forma relatively large recess 18 extending from its lower edge. Eachremaining portion adjacent the base section 12 has an opening 19therethrough arranged to receive the corresponding end of a transverseaxle 20 extending parallel to and slightly above the level of the axle16. The lower rearmost part of each wall 17 is formed with a hub 21aligned with, but spaced from, the hubs 15 and receiving thecorresponding end of the axle 16.

A dual handle assembly is rotatably mounted on the axle 20. The handleassembly comprises an I-shaped cross-bar 212 at its lower end having apair of projecting hubs 22' mounted on the axle 2.0 adjacent the housinginner walls 17'. The transversely extending'section of the cross-bar 22has a rounded upper edge 23 for a purpose hereinafter described. Theupper end projections of the cross-bar 22 form spaced stubs 24, to whichare secured tubular members 25 of the handle assembly. The upper ends ofthe tubes 25 fit into the lower end of a switch box 26. Rubber coveredhandle grips 27 project from opposite sides of the switch box. A safetygrip switch 28 of the momentary contact type is arranged below eachhandle grip 27, so that the machine will stop the instant the operatorreleases his grip. An electric power cable connection 29 is secured tothe switch box and electrical conductors 30 extend through one of thehandle tubes to the electric motor of the machine. The described dualhandle assembly gives a positive control over the position of themachine at all times and reduces operator fatigue by spreading the loadand minimizing the effects of torque on the handle grips.

The machine may be readily transported when not in operation on a pairof wheels 32 positioned within the auxiliary housings 17 at the rear ofthe machine. Each of the wheels 3-2 is rotatably mounted on a stub axle34 arranged parallel to the axles 16 and 20 and extending outwardly fromthe downwardly and outwardly bent lower leg 35 of a bell-crank leverpivotally mounted on the axle 16 at the inner side of the correspondinghub 21. The lower end of the leg 35 projects into the correspondingrecess 18. The upperleg 36 of each bell-crank lever is bent at an obtuseangle to the leg 35 and has its upper end pivotally connected to a bolt38, which passes through the ends of a split collar 39 encircling one ofthe handle tubes 25. One ofthe collars is adjustably clamped to thecorresponding tube 25 by securing one split end of the collar to thebolt and moving a threaded adjusting knob 40 on the bolt end to forcethe other split end of the collar into clamping engagement with thetube. With this con struction, and the adjusting knob loosened, the dualhandle can be moved angularly about the axle 20. At the same time thewheels 32. through the action of the bellcrank levers are raised orlowered as the handle assembly is moved rearwardly or forwardlyrespectively. The adjusting knob 40 can be tightened to hold the handleassembly at any desired angle within its range of angular movementrelative to the housing 10.

The handle assembly is angularly movable relative to the housing betweena lower angular position representing its normal operating position anda substantially upright transport or storage position and releasablylocked in each of these positions by a toe latch mechanism capable ofbeing actuated by the operators foot. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, a latchmember 42 having a rear horizontal leg 43 and a forward leg 44 inclinedat an obtuse angle thereto, is advantageously pivotally mounted on theaxle 16 between the hubs 15. The upper leg 44 of the latch isproportioned to have its forward end in abutting relation to the roundedupper edge 23 of the cross-bar 22, preventing any rearward angular orclockwise movement of the cross-bar, but also preventing any furtherdownward movement of the front leg of the latch member, when the handleassembly is in its upright position for transport or storage of themachine. The forward leg of the latch member is continuously resilientlypressed downwardly by a U-shaped leaf 47 positioned between the uppersurface of this leg and the under surface of the housing centerextension 15. The center extension 13 is recessed on its underside tohold the spring 47 in its operating position.

When it is desired to move the handle assembly rearwardly to itsinclined normal operating position, the operator presses his foot on therear leg 43 of the latch member 42, causing the forward end of the latchto rise out of its abutting position with the cross-bar 2-2. Thecross-bar 22 moves rearwardly in an angular path, i.e. clockwise, withits rounded upper edge in contact with the lower surface of the latchmember upper leg At a position corresponding to the normal operatingposition of the handle assembly, the underside of the latch member upperleg is provided with a transverse recess 54) of semi-circularcross-section corresponding to the rounded upper edge 23 of thecross-bar 22. With this construction the latch member will snap over thecross-bar when the handle assembly reaches its normal operating positionand lock the handle assembly in that position and the retractablesupporting wheels 32 in their most elevated position above the contactlevel of the rotary brush with the floor. The latch member may besubsequently released by the operators foot to allow the handle assemblyto be moved forwardly and the supporting wheels lowered.

When the machine is to be transported, the handle assembly is moved toits extreme forward position wherein the supporting wheels will be intheir lowermost position. The machine is tilted to clear the rotarybrush from the floor and the entire weight taken by the wheels 32. Thepresent machine advantageously embodies an auxiliary set of supportingwheels for facilitating movement of the machine up and down stairs. Forthis purpose a pair of wheels 52 are rotatably mounted on the axle 16between the bell-crank lever arms 36 and the hubs formed on the housingcenter extension 13. The wheels 52 are made of a diameter suificient tocause them to extend beyond the rear end of the latch member 42therebetween. This arrangement insures that the stairs will beadequately protected from injury by the latch member, yet aifordingsufficient space for access thereto by the operators foo't.

While in accordance with the provisions of the statutes I haveillustrated and described herein a specific form of the invention nowknown to me, those skilled in the art will understand that changes maybe made in the form of the apparatus disclosed without departing fromthe spirit of the invention covered by my claims, and that certainfeatures of the invention may sometimes be used to advantage without acorresponding use of other features.

What is claimed is:

1. A floor maintenance machine comprising a main housing, a rotary floortreating element positioned within said main housing, a pair oflaterally spaced auxiliary housings projecting rearwardly from the rearside of said main housing, a handle assembly pivotally mounted in andextending between said auxiliary housings, an axle mounted in andextending between said auxiliary housings rearwardly of the pivot axisof said handle assembly, a pair of bell-crank levers pivotally mountedon said axle, a pair of housing supporting wheels carried on the forwardends of said bell-crank levers and positioned within said auxiliaryhousings, means forming a pivotal connection between the rear ends ofsaid bellcrank levers and said handle assembly and arranged to raise andlower said supporting wheels relative to said rotary floor treatingelement on movement of said handle assembly from an upright transport orstorage position and a lower inclined operating position, respectively,and means for automatically locking said handle assembly in said lowerinclined operating position and also when in said upright transport orstorage position.

2. A floor maintenance machine comprising a main housing, a rotary floortreating element positioned within said main housing, a pair oflaterally spaced auxiliary housings projecting rearwardly from the rearside of said main housing, a cross-bar pivotally mounted in andextending between said auxiliary housings, a handle assembly mounted onsaid cross-bar, an axle mounted in and extending between said auxiliaryhousings rearwardly of and extending parallel to said cross-bar, a pairof bellcrank levers pivotally mounted on said axle, a pair of housingsupporting wheels carried on the forward ends of said bell-crank leversand positioned within said auxiliary housings, means forming a pivotalconnection between the rear ends of said bell-crank levers and saidhandle assembly and arranged to raise and lower said supporting wheelsrelative to said rotary floor treating element on movement of saidhandle assembly from an upright transport or storage position and alower inclined operating position, respectively, and locking meansarranged to positively engage said cross-bar when said handle assemblyis in said lower inclined operating position and also when in saidupright transport or storage position.

3. A floor maintenance machine comprising a main housing, a rotary floortreating element positioned within said main housing, a pair oflaterally spaced auxiliary housings projecting rearwardly from the rearside of said main housing, a cross-bar pivotally mounted in andextending between said auxiliary housings, a handle assembly mounted onsaid cross-bar, an axle mounted in and extending between said auxiliaryhousings rearwardly of and extending parallel to said cross-bar, a pairof hellcrank levers pivotally mo'unted on said axle, a pair of housingsupporting wheels carried on the forward ends of said bell-crank leversand positioned within said auxiliary housings, means forming a pivotalconnection between the rear ends of said bell-crank levers and saidhandle assembly and arranged to raise and lower said supporting wheelsrelative to said ro'tary floor treating element on movement of saidhandle assembly from an upright transport or storage position and alower inclined operating position, respectively, and a spring pressedtoe latch member pivotally mounted on said axle and arranged topositively engage said cross-bar when said handle assembly is in saidlower inclined operating position and also when in said uprighttransport or storage position.

4. A floor maintenance machine comprising a main housing, a rotary floortreating element positioned within said main housing, a pair oflaterally spaced auxiliary housings projecting rearwardly from the rearside of said main housing, a handle assembly pivotally mounted in andextending between said auxiliary housings, an axle mounted in andextending between said auxiliary housings rearwardly of the pivot axisof said handle assembly, a pair of bell-crank levers pivotally mountedon said axle, a pair of housing supporting wheels carried on the forwardends of said bell-crank levers and positioned within said auxiliaryhousings, means forming a pivotal connection between the rear ends ofsaid bell crank levers and said handle assembly and arranged to raiseand lower said supporting wheels relative to said rotary floor treatingelement on movement of said handle assembly from an upright transport orstorage position and a lower inclined operating position, respectively,

means for locking said handle assembly in said lower inclined operatingposition and said upright transport or storage position, and a pair ofauxiliary supporting wheels rotatably mounted on said axle at oppositesides of said locking means, the lowermost peripheral portion of saidauxiliary wheels being at a higher elevation than the lowermostperipheral portion of said housing supporting wheels in substantiallyall positions of the latter when the machine is generally upright.

5. A floor maintenance machine comprising a main housing of horizontalcircular cross-section, a rotary floor treating element positionedWithin said main housing, a pair of laterally spaced auxiliary housingsprojecting rearwardly from the rear side of said main housing, acrossbar pivotally mounted in and extending between said auxiliaryhousings, a handle assembly mounted on said cross-bar, an axle mountedin and extending between said auxiliary housings rearwardly of andextending parallel to said cross-bar, a pair of bell-crank leverspivotally mounted on said axle, a pair of housing supporting wheelscarried on the forward ends of said bellcrank levers and positionedwithin said auxiliary housings, means forming a pivotal connectionbetween the rear ends of said bell-crank levers and said handle assemblyand arranged to raise and lower said supporting wheels relative to saidrotary floor treating element on movement of said handle assembly froman upright transport or storage position and a lower inclined operatingposition, respectively, a spring pressed toe latch member pivotallymounted on said axle and arranged to positively engage said cross-barwhen said handle assembly is in said lower inclined operating positionand also when in said upright transport or storage position, and a pairof auxiliary supporting wheels rotatably mounted on said axle atopposite sides of and spaced from said latch member, the lowermostperipheral portion of said auxiliary wheels being at a higher elevationthan the lowermost peripheral portion of said housing supporting wheelsin substantially all positions of the latter when the machine isgenerally upright.

6. A floor maintenance machine comprising a main housing of horizontalcircular cross-section, a rotary floor treating element positionedwithin said main housing, a pair of laterally spaced auxiliary housingsprojecting rearwardly from the rear side of said main housing, across-bar pivotally mounted in and extending between said auxiliaryhousings, a handle assembly mounted on said cross-bar, an axle mountedin and extending between said auxiliary housings rearwardly of andextending parallel to said cross-bar, a pair of bell-crank leverspivotally mounted on said axle, a pair of housing supporting wheelscarried on the forward ends of said bellcrank levers and positionedwithin said auxiliary housings, means forming a pivotal connectionbetween the rear ends of said bell-crank levers and said handle assemblyand arranged to raise and lower said supporting wheels relative to saidrotary floor treating element on movement of said handle assembly froman upright transport or storage position and a lower inclined operatingposition, respectively, a spring pressed toe latch member pivotallymounted on said axle and arranged to positively engage said cross-barwhen said handle assembly is in said lower inclined operating positionand also when in said upright transport or storage position, and a pairof auxiliary supporting Wheels rotatably mounted on said axle atopposite sides of and spaced from said latch member, said auxiliarysupporting wheels having a radius greater than the rearwardly projectingportion of said latch member, the lowermost peripheral portion of saidauxiliary wheels being at a higher elevation than the lowermostperipheral portion of said housing supporting wheels in substantiallyall positions of the latter when the machine is generally upright.

7. A floor maintenance machine comprising a main housing of horizontalcircular cross-section, a rotary floor treating element positionedwithin said main housing, a pair of laterally spaced auxiliary housingsprojecting rearwardly from the rear side of said main housing, a handleassembly mounted on said auxiliary housings, an axle mounted in andextending between said auxiliary housings, a pair of housing supportingwheels positioned within said auxiliary housings, and a pair ofauxiliary supporting wheels rotatably mounted on said axle be tween andprojecting rearwardly beyond said auxiliary housings, the lowermostperipheral portion of said auxiliary wheels being at a higher elevationthan the lowermost peripheral portion of said housing supporting wheelsin substantially all positions of the latter when the machine isgenerally upright.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,520,769 Peterson Dec. 30, 1924 2,282,950 Dunbar May 12, 1942 2,327,229Vavrik Aug. 17, 1943 2,329,563 Taylor Sept. 14, 1943

